Praise Parade
Theme: To show the importance of praise before the victory.
Text: Mark 11:1 - 11
Mar 11:1-11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage* and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; (2) and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. (3) And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here." (4) So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. (5) But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" (6) And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. (7) Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. (8) And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (9) Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' (10) Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! [51] Hosanna in the highest!" (11) And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Introduction
This begins the week of Holy Week or Passion week. It is the beginning of the Journey to the Cross for Jesus.
I. Sunday(Palm): Entry into Jerusalem and return to Bethany
Mk. 11:1-11
II. Monday: Cursing of the fig tree and cleansing of the
Temple Mk. 11:12-19
III. Tuesday: Parables, controversy stories, and other
teachings Mk. 11:20-13:37
IV. Wednesday: Anointing at Bethany and the treachery of
Judas Mk. 14:1-11
V. Thursday: Passover preparation, Last Supper, Gethsemane,
arrest, and ecclesiastical trial Mk. 14:12-72
VI. Friday: Trial before Pilate, condemnation, crucifixion,
burial. Mk. 15:1-47
VII. Saturday: Jesus in the grave
VIII. Sunday: (Easter): Resurrection Mk. 16:1-20
Prophecy Fulfilled
Some five hundred years before, the prophet Zechariah had prepared the people for a coming King: "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The week begins with a Praise Parade. The people gathered together and laid out their clothes for a path and celebrated with palm branches. Shouting and singing praise to Jesus.
Why?
Because of what the had seen
They had seen the miracles of Jesus and they rejoiced.
Can you imagine who was in the crowd that day. Blind Bartimaeus. The lame man who was stuck at the pool of Bethesda. The woman who was healed after having 12 years of infirmity.
Because of what they were seeing
There was a euphoria of people who had gathered that day. It was a Passover celebration and people came from all over. Maybe some got caught in the crowd and just joined in.
Sometimes our praise can be a catalyst to others.
This happened to Paul and Silas who created a Praise Parade in the prison. The prisoners were so caught up in the moment they didn’t want to leave.
Because of what they were about to see
They did not know this but this was a setup. Jesus was preparing for the cross. The words “Lord save us” was going to be fulfilled. Just not the way they expected it.
You have heard me say this a lot. God may not always answer out prayer as we expect it but He has a plan and He will bring the victory. You must learn to praise Him before the victory.
1 Corinthians 10: 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Other Praise Parades in Scripture
Jericho
Praise March
Joshua 6:7-8 And he said to the people, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord." (8) So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 20:20-22 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." (21) And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever." [48] (22) Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
Paul and Silas
Acts 16:22-26 While in prison they were found praising God and singing hymns and as a result there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison.
It is often times in the OT that the people would lead with the ark and lead with praise.
We are called to be a people of Praise
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
Psalms 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Isaiah 61:1,3 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me... to comfort all who mourn, {3} to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
